Beaches near Bristol?

I'm going to stay with friends in Bristol at Easter, and would like to incorporate some beach time. ARe there any decent beaches within a day trip? If we decide to make a few days of it, where would you recommend where we can book accommodation for a few days during easter holidays??
Many thanks

Hey Elliott,
Langland & Caswell Bays in the Mumbles, just beyond Swansea along the M4 are the nearest nice beaches (2 hour trip). Another half hour further is the rest of the Gower and v nice beaches. North Devon's surfing beaches at Croyde and Wollacombe are about 2 and a half/three quarters of an hour down the M5. Or there's the Dorset coast (same kind of travelling time). Really these are the nearest nice beaches - anything along the Severn estuary is just mud. We've lived here for years and each summer widened out daytrip radius until we had found acceptable beachy beaches. Burnham and Weston are less than an hour, but, as has already been said, although there is some sand at the top of the beach, the rest is treacherous mud. HTH.

Weston is a horrible place in my opinion (I lived there for 9 months when I persuaded DH in a hormonal moment shortly after DD that it would be a good idea as we could have a big house), and Burnham is down wind of Hinkley Point which doesn't do it for me. Both of them are well endowed on the mud front. I used to use Berrow if we went anywhere.

Personally I would do as BITBBH suggests and go a bit further a field. We're in Dorset now and there really is no comparison.

thanks all - I hadn't thought of heading up towards Wales but that may be a good option, thanks bitbbh. any ideas for accommodation up there? I have always hankered after Woolacombe bay hotel but think we may be on a belt tightening phase (house move imminent) so perhaps a caravan park might be nearer the mark...

fascinating anyway - fossils and very beautiful countryside. Watchet is a really quaint quirky little town and Minehead is too. I don't like Weston, Burnham and Clevedon but that's just personal prejudice I think. However I have to agree that if you want 'proper' sandy then East Devon (Sidmouth perhaps) or N Devon (Croyde etc) is your best bet. Fortunately my lot like mud-larking, beach-combing and fossil hunting just as much

Weymouth is probably one of the best beaches, about an hour and half drive, 60 odd miles. Also, during holiday times (not sure if Easter would count) you can get quite a fast train service from Bristol Temple Meads to Weymouth.

All good stuff, keep it coming. (and I'm feeling more and more smug about my corner of the country - lovely sandy beaches within 20 minutes - cold mind )
My kids will be happy with mud combing/fossil hunting. I'm guessing it will be jumpers and wellies sort of beaching anyway in early April!

Lovely beaches at Dunraven Park and Ogmore, which are between Cardiff & Swansea on the Glamorgan Coast. The beach at Ogmore is great, loads of massive dunes to explore, including Europe's largest sand dune, 'The Big Dipper'.

hi elliot, i come from weston-super-mare, to be fair it is muddy when get in sea, but if your son only wants beach/sand, you can't go wrong. theres donkeys, trampolines, fair rides, and loads on pier including ball park. loads places to eat, nice shops to browse(if ds lets you). it is 20 mins from bristol. there is also brean, the next bay around, 10 more mins along. we used to love as kids. loads to do, brean leisure centre, rides, swim pool, crazy golf, amusements. there is also a beach here too. would well recommend these. the beaches in devon/cornwall are lovely too, i went to croyde and wooloacombe last yr, but to be honest spent most time in car stuck behind caravans. not my idea of fun. up to you, but I would stick with somewhere close to bristol, less time travelling, and more time having fun. xx